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Investing.com - BofA has identified Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) and Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:THC) as its top picks in the healthcare sector, while listing Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) and Ardent Health Services (NYSE:ARDT) as the worst positioned companies. Despite the negative outlook, InvestingPro data shows UHS maintains strong fundamentals with a perfect Piotroski Score of 9, trades at an attractive P/E ratio of 9.6, and has achieved nearly 10% revenue growth in the last twelve months.
The bank favors EHC as its top overall pick, citing the company’s minimal exposure to upcoming cuts in exchanges and Medicaid due to its reliance on Medicare as the main payor. BofA also highlighted EHC’s "high visibility growth" through its denovo pipeline and noted that its volumes are largely non-elective, making them less correlated with acute care volumes.
THC earned the designation as BofA’s top hospital pick based on its growing exposure to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which the bank expects will drive differentiated growth over the next few years. The firm also pointed to debt reduction and share repurchases as factors that will drive returns for THC.
BofA estimates that hospitals will face a 2-4% EBITDA growth headwind annually for the next five years due to cuts in the Reconciliation Bill and the expiration of enhanced exchange subsidies. The coverage loss is expected to be front-loaded given the timing of exchange impacts and the potential for work requirement losses to be pulled forward. For deeper insights into healthcare sector dynamics and access to comprehensive financial metrics, including 10+ additional ProTips for UHS, check out InvestingPro.
UHS and ARDT were identified as the companies most negatively impacted by these healthcare policy changes, though BofA noted that pending state directed payments are likely to be approved, potentially offsetting much of the 2026 headwind. According to InvestingPro data, UHS maintains a "GREAT" overall financial health score and strong cash flows that sufficiently cover interest payments, suggesting resilience against potential headwinds.
In other recent news, Universal Health Services reported second-quarter 2025 results that RBC Capital described as "decent," with behavioral volumes improving but still below management’s expectations. RBC raised its price target for Universal Health Services to $206, maintaining a Sector Perform rating. TD Cowen reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $226, noting the company’s adjusted EBITDA exceeded consensus estimates by 5%, despite a $25 million impact from its DC hospital operations. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a Neutral rating with a $227 price target, highlighting a clearer pathway to EBITDA growth in 2026, aided by a $50 million tailwind from Cedar Hill recovery. This recovery is expected to contribute $25 million in the second quarter of 2025 and another $25 million in the second half of 2025. Meanwhile, Bank of America has identified Encompass Health as a top healthcare pick due to its minimal exposure to upcoming cuts in exchanges and Medicaid. BofA cited Encompass Health’s reliance on Medicare as a main payor and its "high visibility growth" through its denovo pipeline as key factors. Universal Health Services faces potential risks from premium increases impacting Health Insurance Exchange enrollment, according to Cantor Fitzgerald, which maintained a Neutral rating.
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